A romantic view from a window showing the skyline of Paris. The dome is possibly the Galeries Lafayette, a premiere shopping adventure.

In 1893 two cousins from Alsace, Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn, opened a small shop on the corner of rue La Fayette and the Chaussée d’Antin. Over the years they expanded into a number of buildings in the area and in 1912 the famous steel and glass dome in the boulevard Haussmann store, was finished in what is now the most prestigious department store in Paris. Designed by Ferdinand Chanut and built by master glassmaker Jacques Gruber, the dome is as spectacular today as they were then and are visited and photographed by thousands each year. It is well worth visiting the store just to see the dome. Be sure to also check out Galeries Lafayette’s and its neighbouring department store Printemps’ roof-top terraces. Both provide unimpeded 360 degree views over Paris.